News Release

Changes announced to senior government leadership

22 November 2017

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Premier Brian Gallant announced changes to the senior ranks of the provincial civil service today.

“Our strong team of senior civil servants, including the four who are taking on new responsibilities, help us to get things done for New Brunswickers,” said Gallant. “This team will support ministers as they focus on New Brunswick’s priorities of jobs, education and health care.”

Cathy LaRochelle, currently assistant deputy minister at the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries as well as at the Department of Energy and Resource Development, becomes acting deputy minister of those departments. This appointment is effective Jan. 1, 2018.

Hélène Bouchard will become acting deputy minister of Aboriginal Affairs and deputy minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, effective Jan. 1, 2018. She currently serves as assistant deputy minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and previously served as an assistant deputy minister at the Regional Development Corporation and at the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries.

Jacques Pinet, currently CEO of the Jobs Board, will have additional responsibilities as president of the Regional Development Corporation, effective May 1, 2018. Pinet joined the government in 2015 after a career in the private sector including 12 years at Assumption Life.

In addition to Gordon Gilman retiring after 37 years in the civil service, Jean Finn, currently deputy minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries and deputy minister of Energy and Resource Development, is retiring from the civil service effective Dec. 31, after 30 years in the civil service. Bill Levesque, currently deputy minister of Aboriginal Affairs, deputy minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, and president of the Regional Development Corporation, and the longest current serving deputy minister, is retiring effective April 30, 2018.

“We thank these three gentlemen for their many years of service to New Brunswickers and we wish them a happy retirement,” said Gallant.

The total number of deputy ministers remains at 19, a reduction of 32 per cent from September 2014.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a complete list of deputy ministers, deputy heads and presidents of Part I Crown corporations, effective May 1, 2018 (* denotes a change or addition):

Judy Wagner, clerk of the Executive Council and head of the public service, secretary to cabinet and deputy minister of the Executive Council Office;